So we run again? My body had technically reset itself since our last jog to disaster, but screwing with time was ten times more exhausting than running for our lives. Too bad there was no other choice.

Yes. If you navigate, we can learn the attack patterns and try different routes. Rule out the bad options until we find something that works.

Yeah. I don’t see another way. But a wave of nausea rolled over me and I broke away from him to sit down. I wasn’t going to even try to explain this away for Darren and the cameras. Hopefully we’d wind it back anyway. In the meantime, my limits were a really huge and worrying question.

I couldn’t tell if the blood or the violence were what helped me start the timewind. Maybe the adrenaline? Or maybe seeing someone I cared about get mowed down gave me the kick I needed to break the laws of physics.

Was that the same as a flashing sign?

No. I dug my nails into my thigh. It wasn’t that. Not yet.

Of course I wanted to save Tair from suffering. I’d want to save most people.

Well…

Not Darren, but most actual people.

I wasn’t paying attention as I grabbed the lid of the closest tray. The smoky smell of bacon wrapped around me and I almost yaked. “Stop trying to poison me, Orpheus.”

Tair switched our trays and sat on his side of the table, but I didn’t bother opening my lid. If I looked at so much as a spoonful of that creamy, slimy yogurt…

I shuddered and pushed my tray across to him. “You poisoned this one too, didn’t you?”

“There’s real maple syrup under there. Poisoning it would be criminal.”

My face wanted to smile, but I forced myself to scowl. “Prove it.”

I was starting to be able to read his expressions and his subtle eyebrow raise said he knew what I was up to, but I’d made the first move. It was his turn to play defense.

“If you insist.” He opened the tray and dug into the fruit.

I just didn’t want to eat anything. There was no other special meaning.

Tair’s eyelids fluttered behind his glasses as he bit into a slice of kiwi and I felt a stupid smile forming. I clapped a hand over my mouth as I realized my own ulterior motives.

I’d wanted to see that expression on his face.

“There you go,” Tair said as he pushed the bowl back to me. “No poison.”

“I’m not hungry.” I rested my head on my folded arms so I wouldn’t have to look at him again.

This crush was going way too far.

And worse?

I wasn’t doing anything to stop it.

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

ALTAIR